Child&#39;s carriage.



G. B. AMBLER.

GHILD'S CARRIAGE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.. 9, 1911.

1,1 17, 149. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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1HE NORRIS PETERS Cn PHoro-LlrHo., WASHINGTON. D. C.

G. B. AMBLER. GHILDS CARRIAGE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED Nov. 9, 1911.

1,1 17, 149. Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

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G. B. AMBLBR.

CEILDS CARRIAGE.

APPLIOATIDN FILED Nov. 9, 1911.

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THE NORRIS PETERS C0., PHOTO-LATHO., WASHINGTONA D. C.

T0 all whom it may concern UNITED srarns PATENT orrr'on` l' l f GEORGE ze. AMBLER, or LEoMINs'rEr., MASSACHUSETTS, Assiettes To r. A. wiarrivnv` CARRIAGE" COMPANY, OF LEOVlVIINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION MASSACHUSETTS.

, CHILD S CARRIAGE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application meerNovember 9, 12,311. serial No. 659,316.

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. AMBLER, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Leominster, county of Worcester, andv Stateof Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Childrens Carriages, of.y

which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.v

This invention relates to folding orcollapsing childrens vehicles and the like and pertains to various improvements inthe construction, organization and mode of operation.

Among other objects the invention is'inf tended to provide a vehicle of very light construction having few and simple parts .in a simple organization, which, at the samey time, Shall be strong and durable and shall support the occupant comfortably and upon adequately yielding springs.

The character of the invention may be readily understood by reference to one practicable embodiment thereof show n by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is-a side elevation of the illustrative embodiment in erected position, the running gear being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same embodiment in partly folded or collapsed position; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same embodiment in completely folded or collapsed position; and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the same,

erected and as viewed fromthe left in Fig. 1.

The illustrative vehicle comprises front Wheels 5, 6, and rear wheels 8 and 9. Preferably, for the sake of rigidity and strength, the front wheels 5, G are -mounted upon a common integral axle 11; and the rear wheels are preferably mountedupon a coinmon integral axle 12. l

The axle 11 is appropriately mounted in the lower end of a frame piece 14 (dupli- 1 catedv at opposite' 'sides of the` vehicle).

These frame pieces are preferably bent to As shown in' supply supporting springs. Fig. 1, the frame piece 14 consists of a preff erably metal baror strip extending fromthe front' axle 11 along the spring bend and thence 'rearwardly towardv the rear end. of

the vehicle to a pivot 1G upon' which' the frame piece 14 is adapted to oscillate in relation to other parts as presently described.

`The rear axle 12 is mounted in framev piece 18 preferablybent to provide spring supports. Each frame pieceylS is pivoted at 20 tothe adjacent frame piece 14 'carry ing the front axle; and beyond said pivot 2() (toward 'the right in Fig. 1) each frame Patented Nov. 1.7, 1914..

piece 18 has an'extension carrying a `pin22 connected by a link'23 to a pin 24 upon the lower end of a lever 26. The pin 24 projects into a guide slot 28 the' frame piece 14.

Each frame. piece'14`umay be reinforced by a strut 30 suitably ,connecting separated;

parts'of the frame piece, and, in like manner, the frame' piece, 18'may be reinforced vby a similar. strut 31. Struts 30 andBl'per- Y form, in the specific organization shown,` substantially the functions of Va reach, main-` taining, or contributing to maintain, the

wheels in proper relationship. vThe lowei end of each strut 'is pivoted to `a bracket 32 which, in turn, is bolted 'to the adjacent axle.

e Thus, the'lower end of each'strut is offset somewhat from the axis upon which the adjacent wheel revolves; and with this `arrangement uthe thrust transmitted through thestrut is applied at a point somewhat removed from the wheel axis and is applied to a part which canyield or swing upon-the wheel axis. By such an organization or its equivalent, the spring of each frame vpiece 14 or 18 is adequately reinforced but is permitted to yield in thel performance of its spring function, and the lower end of each. strut likewise yieldsfor the same purpose. -The illustrative lever 26 is fulcrumedl at 37`upon abar 39 whichv extends from the front of the vehicleto the pivot'16.l The illustrative bar 39 may constitutefone of the legs of a U-shaped horizontally disposed framelrncmber'the crosspiece of which extends acrossthe front end of the vehicle.

The handle Abar 85 is pivoted at its'lower end to the pivot 16 alreadyy referred to', upon" which the framemember 14 and the side bar 39 'are both likewise pivoted.

"Thei'lever 26 Vcarries a'laterally projecting lug 40 the 'outer extremity of" which isv con` nected by Ia link 42 with they lower end of 'a `lever 44 pivoted at 45 to the sidebar 39., The

lever 44- projects upwardly, V substantially, 'paralleling the handle bar 35, andis connected at'its 'upper extremity. by a pin-and-k slot connection with a horizontally extending arm 46 which is also pivoted at 47 to the handle bar 35.

All of the described parts are preferably duplicated on opposite sides of the vehicle. The bar 46 preferably extends far enough toward the right in Fig. 1 to support at an appropriate point, an adjustable hood 49 which, for illustration, is shown as pivoted by a pin 50 to the end of the arm 46.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the frame pieces 14 are connected by a cross brace 52 which contributes rigidity to the construction of the vehicle and holds the frame pieces properly spaced apart. For further rigidity, each frame piece 14 is provided with an extension 54 (at the left in Fig. 1) which as shown in Fig. 4 lits snugly against and bears upon the adjacent parts of the lower ends of the handle bars 85, thereby assisting further to stiffen the construction and to transmit to the handle bars in the vicinity of the pivot 16, the bracing effect of the brace 52. The sidelbars 39 support connecting transverse bars which support a seat 58. Upon the rear end ofthe seat are secured hinge brackets 59, 5.9,.to which are hinged at a back 62. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the vertically slidable bar 64 is mounted in brackets on the rear side of the back 62 and is normally pressed upwardly by a spring 65. The bar 64 carries at its lower extremity a pin 66 which is adapted to engage alternatively, a series of seats or notches in a bracket 67 carried on the bottom of the seat 58. The engagement of the pin 66 with one or another of said notches serves to hold the back in adjusted position; and by pressing the bar 64 downwardly, the pin 66 is disengaged from the notch which it occupies permitting the back 62 to be swung (toward the right in Fig. 1) on its hinge 60, down onto the seat 58.

The specific illustrative type of vehicle comprises sides 70, 70, which are preferably arranged to be folded over on top of the folded back 6:2 as illustrated in the case of the side 70 shown inclined in Fig. 4. Tosnit this purpose, brackets 72, 73 are secured to the side pieces 39, 39 respectively and project upwardly to support hinges 74, 74 at the rear ends of the sides 70 and 70 respectively. The front ends of the sides are similarly supported on hinges 76. The hinges 7 4, 74 and 76 are preferably located in some such :manner as that shown inthe .drawings y (see Fig. 4) `so as to permit thesidles 70 and `to be folded in'suceession intol substantially horizontal .-positions', `oneon top .of the other, over and snugly'adj acentto the folded back 62. Eachof the sides' 70 and 70 carlries a button 7 8 yadapted to be engaged by va metallic lng 79 fixed upon an `arm 46 as shown in Fig. l. Thus,.when the vehicleis erected Shown ,1t1ie button 7S is engaged by the lug 79 on the arm 46, and thereby the sides 70 and 70 are held in erected position and at the same time the handle bars 35 are held against being rocked toward the right in Fig. 1 as is necessary, in the specific instance described, when collapsing the running gear.

The vehicle may be provided with a seat well 80 and dash 81. Also a brake may be conveniently provided by having a brake shoe 83 pivoted to the common pivot of the frame pieces 14 and 18 at 20 and connecting said brake shoe 88 to a foot lever 84 by means of a spring-controlled link 85.

Fig. 1 shows the illustrative vehicle in erected position wherein the frame piece 18 for `the rear axle, is engaged by a clip 88 fired upon the frame piece 14 for the front axle, said clip serving as a stop to prevent movement of the frame piece 18 clockwise relative to the pivot 20. Said clip 88 also preferably embraces the frame piece 18 against movement transversely of the vehicle and thereby contributes to prevent improper transverse movement of the wheels on their illustrative common axle, and tends therwise to strengthen and increase the rigidity of the vehicle.

lVhen it is desired to collapse the vehicle, the back 62 may be folded down against the seat as described; and the lug 79 may be dis-engaged from the pin 78 `by rocking the Iarms 46 contraclockwise in Fig. 1 on their pivots 47, the pin-and-slot connection between said arms 46 and the levers 44 readily permitting this rocking movement. Then the button has been thus dis-engaged, the sides 70 and 70 may be rocked down against the folded back 62 in the manner indicated in Fig. 4. lVhen the back and sides are thus folded, the arms 46 preferably carrying the hood 49 are nevertheless held in erected position by the lever 44 and handle bars This is of substantial `advantage since the hood is supported and controlled so as to be dropped gradually toward the body of the vehicle as it is collapsed.

ln the further collapsing of the vehicle, the handle bars 35 rare swnng clockwise in Fig. 1 about the pivot 16; it is convenient to start this collapsing movement by placing thc foot on. the axle 12 and simultaneously pulling upwardly on the handle bars and pressing them toward the right in Fig. l. Pis the handles swing clockwise, the lever 4'1- lilrcwise rocked in the same direction about thepivot-L so that the link rocks the lever Q6 toward the left. This, turn,

pushesthe link 23 toward .the-,leftjn Fig. v1

and rocks 4the .frame piece -18 carrying the rear wheels, contraclockwise about the pivot 2() which connects the frame pieces 18 and 14. This movement ,of the frame piece 18 swings the latter downwardly and away from they clip ,88. As the ,lever 26 swingsto- `with the button 78 on the sides.

ward-the left (see Fig. 2) its pin 24 travels in the slot 2S lof the frame piece 14, and ultimately, (after` the collapsing has passed through the condition shown in Fig. this operation folds the side pieces 39 of the body, and the frame piece 1.4, together, roclring both of them about the pivot 16; the bars 39 moving in -a clockwise direction on that pivot, and the framepiece 14 moving contracloclwise. 1 In this manner the front wheels and bodyy are folded into the compact relation shown in Fig. 3; and that transpires while the rear wheels are being swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 through that shown in Fig. 2 tothe compact relation shown in Fig. 3.y Similarly, the handle bars 35, levers 44, arms 46 and the hood are folded from the position'shown in Fig. 1 to that shown i'n Fig. 2 to the completely collapsed position shown in Fig. 3.

To erect the vehicle, the above described operations are reversed and when the handle bars and running gear have reached the position shown in Fig. 1, the sides 7 O are erected by swinging transversely of the vehicle to the position shown and thereupon the clips 79 on the arms 46 are engaged In the specific illustrative arrangement, the sides 'are substantially rigid in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and therefore when the button 78 is engaged with the clip 79, the arm 46 becomes in effect a strut interposed between the handle bar 35 and the longitudinal rigid side 70 so that the handle is held against any clockwise collapsing movement on its pivot 16. Similarly, the lever 44 is thus held or locked against collapsing movement and this, through the described chain of connecting elements, serves likewise to hold the entire running gear in fully erected position. The back 62 may be readily adjusted as described independently of the other parts and may be folded independently of the collapsingof the other arts. p 1t is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction, organization and mode of operation above described; on the contrary, the invention may be variously embodied and the described features may be used in various combinations and sub-combinations.

Claims:

` 1. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a main frame; front wheels; a carrier for the front wheels pivoted proximate the rear end of the frame and extending forwardly to a point near the front end of the frame, the axis of said pivot extending transversely of the frame, whereby the front wheels are foldable toward and from the frame; rear wheels; a carrier for the rear wheels pivoted to the carrier for the front wheels' and foldable toward the front wheels; handles pivoted to said main frame; sides connected to vand foldable transversely ofthe latter; means connecting said sides and handles to hold said sides in erected position; and connections from said handles to said vrear wheel carrier for collapsing the kcarriers and main frame on the rocking of the handles toward the front .of the vehicle.` l'

2. A vehicle ofthe character described comprising, inv combination, a main frame; front wheels; a carrier for the front wheels pivoted proximate'the rear end of the frame and extending forwardly to a point near the front end ofthe .fr-ame,` the axis of said pivot extending transverselyofr the frame, whereby the frontlwheels are' foldable towardv and from theJ frame; rear wheels; a carrier forthe rear wheels pivotedto the carrier `for the front wheels `and foldable toward the front wheels; handles pivoted to said main frame; sides "connectedv to and foldable transversely ofthe latter; aback foldable longitudinally of said main frame; and means coperating with said handles for holding said sides in erected position.

8. A. vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a main frame; front wheels; a carrier for the front wheels pivoted proximate the rear end of the frame and extending forwardly to a point near thefront end of the frame, the axis of said pivot extending transversely of the frame, whereby the front wheels are foldable toward and from the frame; rear wheels; a carrier for the rear wheels pivoted to the carrier for the front wheels and foldable toward the front wheels; handles pivoted to said main frame; sides connected to and foldable transc versely of the latter; a stop on the front wheel carrier; and connections from said handles to said rear wheel carrier for locking the latter against said stop on the rocking of said handles to erected position.

4. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a main frame; front wheels; a carrier for the front wheels pivoted to said frame, the axis of said pivot extending transversely of the frame, whereby the front wheels are foldable toward and from the frame; rear wheels; a kcarrier for the rear wheels bivoted to the carrier for the fro-nt wheels and foldable toward the front wheels; handles pivoted to said main frame; sides connected to and foldable transversely of the latter; and connections from said handles to said rear wheel carrier for automatically collapsing the carriers into overlapped relation with said main frame on the rocking of the handles toward the latter.

5. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in combination, a main frame; front wheels; a carrier for the front wheels pivoted to said frame, the axis of said pivot extending transversely of theframe,

whereby the front Wheels are foldable tow Ward and from the frame; rear Wheels; a Carrier for the rear Wheels pivoted to the Carrier for the front Wheels and oldable toward the front wheels; handles pivoted to Said main frame; a member pivotally connected to said main frame and to said handles; a member pivotally connected to said main frame and to said rear Wheel Carrier; and a link Connecting said members for transmitting movement from one to the other to Collapse the vehicle on the rocking 0r' said handles toward said main frame.

6. A vehicle of the character described comprising, in Combination7 a main frame; front Wheels; a carrier for the front Wheels pivoted to said frame, the axis of said pivot extending transversely of the frame, Whereby the front Wheels are foldable toward and from the frame; rear Wheels; a carrier for the rear Wheels pivoted to the carrier Afor the front Wheels and foldable toward the front wheels; handles pivoted to said main frame; a hood; a member pivotally Connected to said handles and hood; a member 25 pivotally connected to said handles and main frame; said members having provision for supporting; said hood independently of the l id es of the vehicle and permit the gradual l collapsing of said hood toward said main 3b GEORGE B. AMBLER.

TWitnesses GEO. H. RoUKEs, GEO. P. HARTMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commssionei` of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

